Chase reports on consumer spending in winter

The winter brought a more crafty customer, according to the Chase Freedom Lifestyle Index of spending in the first quarter of 2014.

The ranking, which is based on Chase Freedom cardholder spending data, put spending on crafts up 114 percent from a year prior, putting it at the top of the list for fastest-growing spending categories, according to the Chase index. Here is the full ranking of spending categories from the first quarter of 2013 to 2014.

1. Craft stores: up 113 percent

2. Tolls: up 12 percent

3. Books: up 7 percent

4. Lessons and classes: up 6 percent

The index suggests that more people were spending online rather than in-person for the first part of 2014. There was a 5 percent decrease in spending in stores, but online transactions were up about 3 percent.

The data for the index is from Chase Freedom cardholders, so it might not be an accurate representation of overall spending trends in the United States. It is a snapshot of how people using those specific credit cards are choosing to spend.